Residential Permit Parking Program

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The City has launched the updated Residential Permit Parking (RPP) Program!

After an extensive citywide residential parking study, data collection, and community outreach effort throughout 2020 and 2021, a Citywide Residential Permit Parking Study was completed in 2022. In July 2022, Costa Mesa City Council adopted revised Residential Permit Parking (RPP) Program Guidelines and municipal code changes. The goal of the RPP is to implement equitable, sustainable, and efficient parking management strategies.

Improvements to the RPP program include:

An online portal for managing permits. The system will allow residents to self-manage and create an account, log in, apply for a permit, upload supporting documentation, purchase, add/change/remove vehicles, make edits to contact information, etc. The online portal can be found at https://costamesa.permitinfo.net/.
Virtual parking permits, where the vehicle's license plate is the permit identifier. Mobile license plate recognition (LPR) cameras will be used to enforce permits, which eliminate the need for physical hangtag or decal permits.
Expanded permit eligibility to all households living within an RPP Zone, aligning the program with the 2016 Attorney General's opinion (#14-304).
Expanded RPP Zone eligibility to all residential zoning districts.
Re-focusing of the program on non-residential parking impacts. Permit parking may be utilized to safeguard parking for residents in neighborhoods impacted by commercial parking demand, schools, recreational facilities, the Orange County Fairgrounds, and impacts from neighboring cities (Newport Beach, Santa Ana, and Huntington Beach).
Redefined permit allocations to one permit per eligible driver (maximum of four per household).

To fund the investment to modernize the RPP program and make it financially sustainable, permit fees have been implemented with the goal of making the program cost-neutral. To keep permits affordable, a discounted rate is offered to qualifying low-income residents.

Fee Structure explained:

Existing RPP Zone Renewal

All existing permit zones previously approved by the City were required to go through a renewal process. This ensured that existing zones meet the new RPP program goals. The renewal process enabled existing RPP zones to opt-in to the updated RPP program.

The updated RPP program was implemented in three phases:

Phase 1: Existing RPP zones with external parking impacts and commercial parking impacts were re-evaluated. Residents in Phase 1 neighborhoods have been notified on their requalification status for the Residential Permit Parking (RPP) Program. In order to requalify, 51% of the neighborhood zone needed to set up an account and purchase at least one residential parking permit or set of guest passes. Phase 1 renewals are complete.

Phase 2: Existing RPP zones with only residential parking demand (without external impacts) were re-evaluated. Phase 2 neighborhoods were required to provide a petition signed by a majority of residences to support the RPP program in their neighborhood, and 51% of the neighborhood zone were required to set up an account and purchase at least one residential parking permit or set of guest passes for renewal. Phase 2 renewals will be complete by late December 2023.

Phase 3: New RPP zone applications are being accepted and evaluated. In order to apply for the creation of a new RPP zone, please send an email with your request to ParkingStudy@costamesaca.gov. (beginning in July 2023).

A neighborhood permit zone will be established with a recommended minimum street-frontage of about 2,000 feet instead of a street-by-street basis. The Transportation Services Manager or designee will determine the appropriate length of a neighborhood permit zone based on the City Council Guidelines and Policies.

Each renewal phase included community outreach and notices mailed to impacted residents.

Public Works Department conducted the first outreach meeting on Resident Permit Parking on Thursday, February 23, 2023 with a focus on Phase 1. It was held over zoom and was attended by 64 community members. Letters for Phase 1 RPP zones were mailed to residents in April 2023 with information on purchasing permits and renewal process.

The second public outreach meeting focusing on Phase 2 was held over zoom on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 and was attended by 68 community members. Click here for a link to the presentation. Letters for Phase 2 RPP zones were mailed to residents in May 2023 with information about the next steps of the renewal process.

The third public outreach meeting focusing on Phase 3 was held over zoom on Monday, July 17, 2023 and was attended by about 25 community members. Click here for a link to the presentation.

FAQs

Why was the residential permit parking program relaunched?

The City undertook an extensive citywide residential parking study, data collection, and community outreach effort throughout 2020 and 2021. A Citywide Residential Permit Parking Study was completed in 2022. The study provided several recommendations, and the City Council adopted the revised RPP Program Guidelines in July 2022. In order to implement the revised RPP Program Guidelines, the program was formally relaunched.

The guiding principles employed in the development of the City’s revised RPP program follow:

Equitable access: Develop equitable programs that appropriately balance the parking needs of all residents, businesses, and visitors, while enabling the on-street parking supply to serve the community fairly, and enhance access for all.
Sustainable solutions: Implement financially sustainable strategies that modernize and streamline parking program management.
Efficient program management: Create an efficient and adaptable parking system that is optimized for the City’s current needs, but can be incrementally updated and adjusted over time.

When will enforcement of the Residential Permit Parking program begin?

Enforcement of the RPP program had been on pause since 2020. The updated RPP program was rolled out in three phases, during which existing permit zones were required to go through renewal. This allowed the City to ensure that the zones meet the new RPP program goals. Phase 1 included existing RPP zones with external parking impacts, and renewal phase began in late April 2023. Phase 2 included existing RPP zones with only residential parking demand (without external impacts) and renewal phase will be complete in December 2023. Phase 1 and 2 streets have been notified of their status in the renewal process and of their enforcement status. All Phase 1 and 2 streets which successfully requalified are currently being enforced or will begin to be enforced in January 2024.

In Phase 3, new RPP zone applications are being accepted as part of Phase 3. New RPP zones will not be enforced until 1) the application is approved, 2) residents are notified, and 3) 50% of eligible households receive a permit under the new permit guidelines. Regardless of the phase in which a zone is renewed, all RPP zone residents must meet the new eligible driver criteria, and permits will be subject to the permit fee rate structure.

My street already has a Residential Permit Parking Program, what does this mean for me?

Existing RPP program areas will be re-evaluated according to the revised RPP guidelines and renewed in phases based on external impacts during the renewal process. Phase 1 will include existing RPP zones with external parking impacts and residents will be notified to purchase permits per the new permit guidelines. Phase 2 will include existing RPP zones with only residential parking demand (without external impacts); Phase 2 will need a petition signed by at least 51% of residents and zone evaluated to determine if parking occupancy threshold of 70% is met. In Phase 3, new RPP zone applications will be evaluated.

Existing RPP zones will not be enforced until 1) the zone is renewed, 2) residents are notified, and 3) 50% of eligible households receive a permit under the new permit guidelines. Regardless of the phase in which a zone is renewed, all RPP zone residents must meet the new eligible driver criteria, and permits will be subject to the permit fee rate structure.

I want a Residential Permit Parking Program on my street, when will we be able to apply?

What is the process to get Residential Permit Parking on my street?

Applications for new RPP zones are currently being accepted. In most cases, a minimum street frontage of about 2,000 feet instead of a street-by-street basis will be considered to establish a new standalone RPP zone. This requirement would not apply to applicants attempting to join an existing neighboring permit zone.

Neighborhoods that would like an RPP Zone will be required to provide a petition from residents signed by 51 percent or more households in support of implementing an RPP Zone. Once the petition is verified, a parking occupancy study is then conducted to evaluate whether a permit restriction is needed and to determine the appropriate boundaries for the new permit zone.

Who is eligible for parking permits? How many parking permits can I get?

A resident on a permit street with a valid driver’s license and a vehicle registered to the same address will be eligible for one parking permit. This includes residents of all dwelling types, such as single-family homes, apartment buildings, townhomes, and condos. There is a maximum of four permits per household. Permits are registered and managed by one primary permit holder per household through the online permit management system.

Oversized vehicles, as defined by the Costa Mesa Municipal Code, are not eligible for residential parking permits.

Do I have to pay for parking permits?

Yes, a permit fee will be charged. Permit rates follow an escalating rate structure, starting at $25 annually for the first permit. For households with multiple drivers, additional permits can be purchased at a premium rate in $25 increments ($25 for the first permit, $50 for the second permit, $75 for the third permit and $100 for the fourth). The escalating fee structure encourages residents to park on their property if they are able to do so, and to cover the cost of the program.

To keep permits affordable, qualifying low-income residents will be offered a discounted annual rate starting at $5 for the first permit, $10 for the second, $25 for the third, and $50 for the fourth. Only the first permit-holder has to qualify for low income discount, then the following tiers would apply.

Guest permits will be offered for residential parking permit accounts at $25 for 100 guest permits per year.

How will permits be enforced?

The City is significantly upgrading the technology used to manage the RPP program. This includes a permit management system (PMS) and license plate recognition (LPR) technology.

LPR technology improves enforcement efficiency and allows the implementation of virtual parking permits. With LPR technology, manual enforcement processes will be automated. Instead of verifying that each vehicle has a physical permit displayed, that the permit number is tied to the vehicle license plate number. The LPR system automates the enforcement process by using the license plate number as the permit number and verifying permit status using a database with real-time information.

How do guest permits work?

Where do I need to go to set up and manage my account?

To self-manage your account, qualified residents can access an online permit management system. Here, you can apply for a permit, upload documentation, purchase permits, and make any edits. The new residential permit parking online permit management system can be found at https://costamesa.permitinfo.net/.

Permits are registered and managed by one primary permit holder per household through the online permit management system.

If you have any comments or questions, please email: parkingstudy@costamesaca.gov.

City of Costa Mesa

How Do I…

Obtain

Birth Certificate

Residential Permit Parking Program

Fee Structure explained:

FAQs